Book excerpt: By the spring of 1964, Toronto had the largest and most organized Beatles fan base in North America. The Beatles in Canada: The Origins of Beatlemania! finally tells the true story of how The Beatles’ music and popularity began in Canada a full year before they landed in the U.S.A. Piers Hemmingsen provides a concise look at how radio stations, newspapers and television networks in Canada covered the phenomenon that was Beatlemania, and this digital edition is packed with full-colour images of the band, their travels, those they inspired, and an immense hoard of memorabilia gathered along the way. ’After all these years, I still cannot comprehend where Piers gets his energy supply from. He has written four previous books about The Beatles and discovered an appreciative readership for all of them. However, to me this book, the one you are holding, is his breakthrough. Where it could have been an easy exercise with new information about the Fab Four, Piers has taken one large step forward. He is also able to incorporate the beginnings of the Canadian music industry. Through mainly focusing on one record company he has been able to capture the excitement of a young industry finding its way, competing with the giants in the United States.' – Paul White, Capitol Records of Canada, 1957-1978